Menendez seeks to stop corn ethanol mandate

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez wants to end the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Legislation introduced by Menendez on Tuesday would seek to remove the volume requirements for corn ethanol to reduce carbon emissions from transportation fuels and maintain obligations for biofuels and biodiesel.

“The corn ethanol mandate has failed to live up to its emissions reduction promises, while contributing to higher food prices, causing issues for motorists, and leading to other environmental damages,” Menendez said.  “It’s time that we move on from this misguided policy and shift our focus to real solutions that truly address climate change and reduce other harmful emissions.”

According to Menendez, his proposal would require annual increases in renewable fuel to be blended into the total amount of gasoline refined and consumed nationwide.  He said his bill would require 36 billion gallons of ethanol to be melded to result in drivers of climate change: emission of 7,600 tons of nitrogen oxides and 19,000 tons of volatile organic compounds.

Menendez is joined on the bill by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein, Patrick Toomey, and Susan Collins.